Agreement quantifies Arizona tribe’s water rights

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is set to sign off on an agreement that will fund a water delivery system for the White Mountain Apache Tribe.

The agreement to be signed Tuesday also ensures that Phoenix suburbs receive water from the Salt River basin.

The agreement is the last of four American Indian water rights settlements signed by President Barack Obama in 2010 to be executed. The legislation includes more than $200 million for the water delivery system, and nearly $79 million for other projects to benefit the White Mountain Apaches.

Tribal Chairman Ronnie Lupe and the federal lawmakers who introduced the legislation will join Jewell for the signing ceremony. It will be streamed live online from Washington, D.C.